ODOT crews ready for Tuscarawas County winter

Statewide, the department will have more than 1,700 plow trucks and more than 3,000 trained drivers ready to clear ice and snow from the state’s roadways and bridges.

By Meghan Millea

Times Reporter

By Meghan Millea

Posted Oct. 16, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated Oct 16, 2013 at 4:02 PM

By Meghan Millea

Posted Oct. 16, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated Oct 16, 2013 at 4:02 PM

Every year the mechanics, truck drivers and various administrative personnel from the Ohio Department of Transportation work to prepare themselves for any weather-related catastrophe that could affect the flow of traffic, and more importantly, jeopardize the safety of any vehicle’s inhabitants.

“Unfortunately, we never know what Mother Nature is going to throw at us,” said ODOT Director Jerry Wray. “The best we can do is be prepared for everything, all the time.”

Although District 11 spokeswoman Becky Giauque said ODOT works to be ready for any event throughout the year, extra precautions are taken in October. She said District 11 will inspect plows and hydraulics as well as perform random, 150-point inspections to repair and fine-tune snow-removal equipment as part of county-by-county Equipment Readiness Inspections.

She said it’s not common to have the first snowfall before Halloween, but in the event it happens, ODOT will be ready. She said more than 200 drivers will be ready to treat 3,329 miles of roadway and 951 bridges that make up the seven counties in District 11. District 11 covers Belmont, Carroll, Columbiana, Harrison, Holmes, Jefferson and Tuscarawas counties.

“We prepare always the same way — kind of prepare for the worst, hope for the best scenario,” Giaque said.

Statewide, the department will have more than 1,700 plow trucks and more than 3,000 trained drivers ready to clear ice and snow from the state’s roadways and bridges. ODOT maintains nearly 43,000 lane miles of state highway, which carries approximately two-thirds of the state’s daily traffic.

In addition ODOT has continued to upgrade the fleets of snow plows by adding green and white lights to its existing amber lights for more visibility on the roadways. Also ODOT continues to see cost savings. In 2011, the average price of salt per ton was $54.02, coming to $60.39 million. In 2012, prices were $40.91 per ton, coming to $45.7 million. In 2013, the average prices dipped to $35.83 per ton, that’s $40 million.

Last year, District 11 paid $46.81 a ton of salt. For winter 2012-2013, material cost approximately $3.3 million, equipment $1.6 million and labor nearly $1.2 million for the district, coming close to $6 million. This year District 11 is paying $36.45, saving more than $10 a ton.